Superheroes and Dr Who to appear at Wakefield Comic-Con

Mike Muncaster

Superman, Batman and Darth Vader will be walking the city streets for Wakefield’s first comic-con event.

The festival is a chance for comic book fans to dress up like their favourite characters as well as to pick up collectables.

And businesses will each have their own theme during the event on Saturday, July 4.

The Six Chimneys on Kirkgate will see its staff dress up as zombies from the hit American television series The Walking Dead.

The pub will have zombie face painting and games throughout the day followed by zombie-themed food and cocktails during the evening.

Team leader Beth Latham said: “We are expecting lots of people from outside the city to come as comic-con is such a popular event.

“It will be fantastic to see so many comic book heroes and villains in the city.”

And The Empire will invade Trinity Walk Shopping Centre from 11am to 3pm.

Darth Vader and a stormtrooper will patrol Trinity Walk and those brave enough can have their picture taken with the dark lord.

Cormac Hamilton, centre manager at Trinity Walk said: “We are thrilled that Wakefield is hosting its first ever comic-con event and even more excited that Lord Vader will be at the shopping centre. He will be difficult to miss. It is going to be a great day celebrating all things comics.”

And some of the biggest retailers will be selling action figures, autographs and much more at Unity Works from 10am to 5pm.

Red Dwarf’s Arnold Rimmer, played by Chris Barrie, Robert Llewellyn, who starred as Kryten, and Hattie Hayridge, who played Holly, will be at the venue.

Doctor Who stars Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant, who played the doctor’s former companion Peri Brown, will also meet and greet with fans.

Dean Freeman, of Unity Works, said: “We have been trying to find new ways to bring people to Wakefield and comic books and superheroes are popular more than ever at the moment. It is massive around the world so we are excited to bring it to Wakefield.”

The venues and their themes are:

Ridings Shopping Centre – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Santander – Doctor Who

Trinity Walk – Darth Vader and Storm Trooper

Pizza Express – Star Wars

Six Chimneys – The Walking Dead

Black Horse – Female super heroes

Unity Works – X Men

Havanna bar – Super Heroes

Mex Bar – Terminator/Robocop

Fanny and Bacardi – Heroes as never before

Tequila Bar – Heroes and Villains

X Bar – Star Trek

Boomerang – Spider-man

Reflex/Flares – Superman

Coco Bongo – X Men

Holiday Inn Express – Female Super Heroes

Reflections – Batman

Qudos – Heroes and Villains

Bannisters – Doctor Who

Jocks Cavern – Avengers

The Gate – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Thats Entertainment – Anyone dressed up gets a picture on the wall of fame